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CD: JOHNNY HEAP - Retrospectfully Yours

BJ The DJ - Modern Cinderella - Reminiscing -
Travel By Train - For The Good Times - Roll Along Kentucky Moon - Star
of Love - There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight -Ridin' With A Smile And A
Song - The Convict And The Rose - Treasures Untold - Katrina - Wedding
Bells - Last of the Kellys - Til The End of the World - Blue Eyes Crying
In The Rain - I Don't Hurt Anymore - I Love you Because - Any Old Time -
The Hordern Tree - Where No One Stands Alone - Ain't Misbehaving - My
Heart Is Where The Roper Flows Tonight - The One Rose - I Went In To
Hear The Music - I Really Don't Want To Know - Another Stretch of Track -
Lonely Street

It absolutely amazes me at the large quantity of really
really great country music on planet earth that is so much better than
what we hear in pop-rock-rap country music today coming from Nashville.
It boggles the mind to 'know' that country music as it was originally
meant to be written, recorded, and performed has been so drastically
altered. Obviously to suit the very very small 'percentage' of country
music 'money' producers, artists, and fans who have made those changes.
I was unaware of Johnny Heap until a friend, Paul Hazell, who does a
radio show called 'World of Country' from Uckfield in East Sussex,
England, sent me this recording. To understand the genuine country
sound of Johnny Heap you need to know a little about him. He started in
the mid-50's as a DJ as well as a radio vocalist. This eventually led
to an invitation to be part of the Rick & Thei Carey touring show, a
prestigious show in Australia. This eventually led him to a recording
career on his own, and a massive following because of the extremely
gifted vocals he recorded. This particular CD sent to me by Paul
Hazell, is a compilation of some of Johnny Heap's greatest recordings.
As I listen to the backing and the manner in which they were recorded,
this is some of the very best country music in the classic and
traditional style I've ever heard from an artist I had never heard of.
Heap was inducted into the 'Hands of Fame' in Tamworth in 1980, which
has immortalized his incredible contributions to 'real' country music.
Johnny Heap had sort of retired from the music business in 2006, age and
a fading interest in 'real' country music the culprit. Then this same
Paul Hazell began to play Johnny Heap's song "There'll Be No Teardrops
Tonight" on his radio show which immediately captivated a 'new' audience
for the music of Johnny Heap. I have received a number of albums from
Australia and New Zealand country artists, and like them all mostly
because they still stay true to the distinctive country music elements
that are so missing in today's commercial country music, but I must
admit Johnny Heap stands head and shoulders above many of them. The
song Paul played by Johnny Heap, has a rousing fiddle introduction and
stays on track throughout, no wonder so many people in England starting
listening to Johnny Heap again. His delightful voice and selection of
material is immaculate. I've already become a fan of Johnny Heap and
will be forwarding this delightful five-star CD to the Rural Roots Music
Commission for their listening pleasure and of course for their
selection of "CD of the Year" awards. I would surmise that Johnny Heap
is going to come out at number one once again.